Chelsea confirm another signing as teenage defender arrives from Boca Juniors

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Aaron Anselmino from Boca Juniors, where he will spend the 2024/25 season on loan.

The 19-year-old defender has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues as the west London club continue to bring in a string of young talents.

The Argentinian joins Omari Kellyman, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Viega, Caleb Wiley and Filip Jorgensen in moving to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Anselmino spent time in his very early career with Juventud Unida and Sportivo Realico before joining Boca Juniors as a 12-year-old.

The teenager made 10 senior appearances for the Argentinian giants, scoring one goal, which he will hope to add to on his loan spell before he moves to Chelsea permanently.

A brief statement from the Blues concluded with: ‘Welcome to Chelsea and good luck on loan, Aaron!’

The New York Times reported the fee Chelsea paid for the defender to be in the region of £17m.

It is another extremely busy summer in the transfer market for Chelsea, with a number of players also leaving, including Omari Hutchinson, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Hall, Hakim Ziyech and both Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr being released.

Conor Gallagher is set to join Atletico Madrid and Anselmino is unlikely to be the last arrival of the summer as new manager Enzo Maresca works with a rapidly changing squad.

Former Blues star William Gallas has been surprised with some of the transfer business at the Bridge, notably the signing of a new goalkeeper in Jorgensen who arrived from Villarreal for just over £20m.

Chelsea’s giant squad already includes goalkeepers Robert Sanchez, Djorde Petrovic, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Marcus Bettinelli, with the Frenchman stunned that the sporting directors wanted another stopper.

‘I’m speechless,’ Gallas told Lord Ping. ‘What can I say about Chelsea signing another goalkeeper, why are they doing it? What for? Why do they think they need another goalkeeper?

‘It’s ridiculous, they have spent so much money and are still spending more. It’s sending a message to their current goalkeepers that they aren’t good enough. Chelsea should be looking at experienced defenders and a striker, that’s what they need to focus on.’

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